He is one of the great saints of the Catholic Church, and one of the beloved--even far beyond Catholics themselves. Untold numbers of people turn to him, still, when there is loss. And strangely--at least strangely in the usual ways of the world--those things often quickly turn up. And often they turn up in the most unexpected--even seemingly miraculous ways. Let the stories begin.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Deeds Without Prayer
While teaching, preaching, or writing, St. Anthony never lost sight of God, he never ceased to pray and do good. The unifying factor in praying and good works is the fact that prayer is an essential and necessary component of doing good. This is what St. Anthony meant when he wrote in his Sermon for the Feast of the Circumcision: "Deeds without devotion are like a lamp without oil," meaning that deeds without prayer are useless and ineffective.
